Rocky Top Talk: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Sean Keeley's Week 12 College Football Buffet

More great SB Nation Blogs

Baseball

Football

Basketball

College

Hockey

Soccer

Combat Sports

Golf

General

ENEMY FEED OF THE WEEK: VANDERBILT COMMODORES

ENEMY FEED OF THE WEEK: OLE MISS REBELS

RTT TWITTER

SBN Feeds

College Football Blogger Awards

2007 CFBA Winner: Best SEC Blog
2007 CFBA Winner: Best Looking Blog
2007 CFBA Runner Up: Best YouTube
2007 CFBA Nominee: Mythical National Champion
2007 CFBA Nominee: People's Champ Award
2007 CFBA Nominee: Best Recurring Feature
2006 CFBA Nominee: Best SEC blog
2006 CFBA Nominee: Best Looking Blog


Tennessee Volunteers vs. East Carolina Pirates: open game thread

No pretties this afternoon. Just what I'm hoping are helpful links. If you're able, first count yourself lucky and then leave your comments below.

83 comments  |  0 recs |

RTT on Sports Animal 99 today at 1:45

Don't forget to listen to WNML at about 1:45 today (and every Friday) to hear Will's weekly appearance on Sports 180 with Josh Ward and Will West. Listen live here.

0 comments  |  0 recs

Tennessee Senior Day 2009: Rico McCoy

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (15) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Tennessee defensive tackle Montori Hughes (93) and Tennessee linebacker Rico McCoy, left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Tennessee recovered the ball, and went on to score a touchdown. Florida won 23-13. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

2 months ago: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (15) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Tennessee defensive tackle Montori Hughes (93) and Tennessee linebacker Rico McCoy, left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Tennessee recovered the ball, and went on to score a touchdown. Florida won 23-13. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Before we get to our last senior spotlight, here's a look at the other names you'll hear called on Saturday:

  • TE Jeff Cottam ends his Tennessee career with 7 catches, 2 for touchdowns going into Saturday's game.  Played together with his brother Brad in 2007.
  • CB Marsalous Johnson saw duty in UT's nickel and mustang packages over the last three seasons, finishing with one sack and one interception.
  • DT Andre Mathis saw spot duty at a variety of positions in the defensive front in his four years, seemingly never finding the right fit.  He has 9 career tackles going into Saturday.
  • Others include DB Derrick Furlow, the snapper/holder combination of Morgan Cox and Bram Cannon, and walk ons Johnny Harrison, Steven Hensley and Sean White.  Austin Rogers is applying for a sixth year of eligibility, so I'm not sure if he's running Saturday or not.

Our last spotlight senior has been that one that's contributed the most over the course of all four of his seasons in Knoxville, a four year starter at linebacker... 

Continue reading this post »

1 comment  |  0 recs |

Around the SB Nation: Farewell to UGA VII

Photo

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Football

  • Dawg Sports pays tribute to UGA VII, who died yesterday of an apparent heart attack.
  • In advance of the LSU-Ole Miss game tomorrow, And the Valley Shook and Red Cup Rebellion exchange Q&As.

Basketball

  • Carolina March and We Will Always Have Tempe both react to last night's 77-73 victory by North Carolina over Ohio State. (Language alert for the loser; imagine that.)
  • Maryland blog Testudo Times reacts to Tobias Harris choosing Tennessee.

0 comments  |  0 recs |

Tennessee Senior Day 2009: Wes Brown & Dan Williams


Defensive tackle was a huge question mark for Tennessee entering this season, but these two seniors have done a tremendous job answering it. 

Wes Brown joins Josh McNeil in the bad knees club, but has made it through ten games this season without missing much action.  Lane Kiffin moved Brown from defensive end to defensive tackle, and Brown hasn't missed a beat.  He's recorded 3.5 sacks and 5 TFLs this season, to go along with an interception picked up last week at Ole Miss.  He took a position in question and turned it into a solid answer for this defense.

We knew Dan Williams was good coming into this season, but his play has been simply outstanding.  An All-SEC and All-America candidate, Williams has 6.5 TFLs and 8 QB hurries this season to go along with 52 tackles, leading the way in the trenches and blowing up running plays by himself on several occasions.  And remember, without Dan Williams' block, Lones Seiber makes this kick and Georgia goes to the SEC Championship Game instead of us:

Montori Hughes and the other Vols who will step in next season have big shoes to fill on both counts at defensive tackle.  Meanwhile, Dan Williams could join Eric Berry in the first round of April's NFL Draft.

2 comments  |  0 recs |

Tennessee Senior Day 2009: Offensive Linemen

As much as we may appreciate these guys now, it'll be next fall when these six experienced starters will truly be missed.

Jacques McClendon, Josh McNeil, Vladimir Richard and Chris Scott are all veterans of the 2007 offensive line that allowed an NCAA-low 4 sacks in the entire season, keeping Erik Ainge safe and paving the way to an Eastern Division Championship.  Their success as a unit helped turn the eyes of NFL scouts on them individually, especially McNeil, who was projected to be one of the top centers taken in the 2010 NFL Draft.

McNeil's career essentially came to an end before his senior season ever truly got started, with his knees finally betraying him in full.  That didn't keep him from continuing to work out and dress with the team, getting some action in the final moments of the Georgia blowout and serving as an excellent example to those around him.

And with McNeil going down and others banged up, Cody and Cory Sullins have stepped in and played literally above their heads this season.  Undersized but at times undervalued, they helped keep Jonathan Crompton safe long enough for him to find himself in this offense, and have paved the way for Montario Hardesty in what has become a truly balanced Tennessee attack.  It's fitting - even if it's unfortunate for us next year - that these six linemen have taken every step of their Tennessee football journey alongside the quarterback and running back they've been asked to protect here in their final year together.

While the Sullins Boys aren't likely to show up on Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board, there may be football still out there for McClendon, Richard and Scott.  Either way, it leaves a gaping hole for next year, where Aaron Douglas will serve as the lone returning starter, and Jarod Shaw is the only other player with real game experience.  Perhaps above all others, these guys will be missed.

0 comments  |  0 recs

Tennessee Senior Day 2009: Quintin Hancock

Tennessee Quintin Hancock (87) out runs UCLA's Akeem Ayers (10) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. UCLA won 19-15. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

2 months ago: Tennessee Quintin Hancock (87) out runs UCLA's Akeem Ayers (10) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. UCLA won 19-15. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Hancock is a senior that feels like a sophomore, because he's only seen real action in two seasons.  In 2007, Hancock had 16 catches and 3 TDs, including this beauty in the fourth overtime of the Kentucky game with the Vols 40 yards away:

He then became one of the poster children for the futility of the Clawfense, catching zero passes in 2008.  Though he's been injured off and on this season, Hancock has shown the most reliable hands on the team and grabbed 24 receptions in 7 games, including two touchdowns.  He is the lone target that will not return in the Vols' passing game next season, but his perseverance is to be commended now in his final appearance at Neyland Stadium.

1 comment  |  0 recs

Tennessee Senior Day 2009: Montario Hardesty

Tennessee's Montario Hardesty (2) gets away from South Carolina's DeVonte Holloman (21)during the second half of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 31-13. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

19 days ago: Tennessee's Montario Hardesty (2) gets away from South Carolina's DeVonte Holloman (21)during the second half of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 31-13. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

We've mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again:  although Arian Foster, LaMarcus Coker, Lennon Creer, and Bryce Brown were all talked about more than he was, Montario Hardesty has outperformed them all.

Hardesty has 956 rushing yards thru the first ten games of the season, and will almost certainly become the first Vol to run for 1,000 yards in a season since Gerald Riggs and Cedric Houston both did it in 2004.  If he can pick up 334 yards in the final three games, he'll have one of the five best individual seasons in UT history.  And he is currently 13th on UT's all-time rushing chart, where those same 334 yards would get him into the Top 10 all-time.  He has already joined an elite club of Vols to run for over 2,000 yards in their collegiate careers.

What makes Hardesty great?

Continue reading this post »

4 comments  |  0 recs |

More Posts from Rocky Top Talk

Explore Full Archive Next Page


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Tennessee Volunteers.
Start posting about the Volunteers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Bobo's Playoff System (Week 12)
Small
Alright guys chill out, we played a bad game
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Pick 'Em: four tie this week, marmot_man_111 still in front overall
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Guessing Game standings after Week 10
Small
Nice journalism from the Miami Herald.
Small
Bobo's Playoff System:
Associated_20press_clayliston_1965_l_small
Lane and Wayne: A Brief History of Two Gangsters
Phil_s_pic_small
Just to update Ian
28922_1__small
Your RCR Guide to Oxford
Small
I Can't Hear You Rocky Top is Playing

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Video Highlights

THE 2009 RTT PODCAST SERIES

Join the guys from RTT Monday evenings at 9:00 p.m. EST beginning on August 31, 2009, for the 2009 Rocky Top Talk Podcast Series.

CALL NOW, LISTEN LATER!

Got something to say about the Tennessee Volunteers? Click the graphic above to make a comment or to ask a question, and we'll try to work it into our next RTT podcast!

TENNESSEE TWEETS!

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

SEC Fan Poll
Tebow Tebow Tebow
THE BERRY BEST Monte Kiffin has just one request: he'd like to keep...
The graduation rate of Fulmer's last few teams...
A Diplomatic Introduction | Gate 21
Jayvaughn Pinkston wating until spring to make decision
Security Cam Footage - Shoplifting Incident
Tommy West is a class act | Mr. College Football
Um, wow.
TV coverage of Paradise Jam

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Feed Me! Tennessee News and Blogs

Tennessee News

Tennessee Blogs

RTT Classics

RTT Classics 2008 Animated BlogPoll2007 Animated BlogPollLOL! Your logo is so scary! Welcome to Rocky Top Talk Tradition! Fiddlin' on the Roof2008 Animated BlogPoll The Season of Which We Do Not Speak Pearlfection Case Study: 2QB Systems and the 2005 Tennessee Volunteers The 2007 College Football Blogger Awards The 2006 College Football Blogger Awards The 20 coolest college football logos The 10 worst college football logos The 29 most boring college football logos 2006 Animated BCS Race 2005 Animated Race to the Rose Bowl

Animated Drive Charts

BlogRoll

82 Sluggo Win
A Sea Of Blue
Addicted To Quack
Alligator Army
And The Valley Shook
Around the Oval
Awful Announcing
Barking Carnival
BCS Busters
Best of the SEC Blogs
Bevo Sports
Big Orange Vehicle Blog
Big Red Network
Black Heart Gold Pants
Black Shoe Diaries
Blacksburg Beacon
Bleacher Bloggers
Block U
Braves & Birds - The Atlanta Sports Blog
Bring on the Cats
Bruins Nation
Buckeye Commentary
BuckeyeBanter.com
Buckeyes 24/7 Ohio State Forums
Building The Dam
Burnt Orange Nation
California Golden Bear Football News
Card Chronicle
Carolina March
Clone Chronicles
Cock -n- Fire
College Football Authority
College Football News : CBS SportsLine.com
College Football Resource
CollegeFootballFrenzy.com
Conquest Chronicles
Corn from a Jar
Corn Nation
Crimson And Cream Machine
CrossCyed
Danny Jett's Inner Circle
D.C. Sports Bog
David Stiller's blog
Dawg Sports
Deadspin
disco tech!
Dodgy At Best
Double Extra Point
Double-A Zone
Double-T Nation
Drew's Notebook
Eagle in Atlanta -- atleagle.com
ESPN Blog Feed: Bruce Feldman
ESPN.com - College Football
Every Day Should Be Saturday
Fanblogs.com
FanHouse - Tennessee Football
Fast Times in the SEC
Fire Mark May
Football Outsiders
FOXSports.com News for COLLEGE BASKETBALL
FOXSports.com News for COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Fulmer's Belly
Garnet And Black Attack
Gate 21
Georgia Sports Blog
Get The Picture
Go Vols Xtra Stories
Good News In Sports
Google Operating System
Gridiron Studs
Gutty Little Bruins | UCLA Bruins Football, Basketball, and Recruiting
Hall Of Canes
Hey Jenny Slater.
In The Bleachers College Football Blog
Inside the Hall
Kanka's Sports Page
Ladies...
Leftover Hot Dog
Lopez@Large
Loser with Socks
M Zone
Maize n Brew
Making the Dance
Mark May Be Wrong
Mash On The Gas
Men of the Scarlet and Gray
mgoblog
MidWest Coast Bias
Mississippi State Sports Blog
Mr. College Football | ajc.com
Off the Hook
Official NCAA Football blog: Every Game Counts
Orange::44
Our Sturdy Golden Bear
Over the Pylon
Provo Pride
Rakes Of Mallow
Ramblin Racket
Rock Chalk Talk
Rock M Nation
Rocky Top Talk
Roll 'Bama Roll
Ronald Bellamy's underachieving All-Stars
Saurian Sagacity
ScalpEm.com
Scout.com > InsideTennessee.com
SEC Sports Fan Blog
SI.com - NCAA Football
Smart Football - Analysis and Strategy by Chris
Southeastern Sportsblog
SpartyMSU
SportingNews.com Expert, Spencer Hall
StateFans Nation
Straight Bangin'
Sunday Morning Quarterback
Swamp Ball
Sweaty Men Endeavors
The 12th ManChild
the 12th Manchild
The 8th Maxim
The Band Is Out On The Field
The Blue-Gray Sky
The BruceBall Blog
The California Golden Blogs
The Campus Word
The Corporate Headquarters of the San Antonio Gunslingers
THE COURTMASTER RULES ON COLLEGE SPORTS
The Dead Guy's SEC site
The FanHouse - Fresno State Football
The FanHouse - Georgia Tech Football
The FanHouse - Navy Football
The FanHouse - NCAAfootball
The FanHouse - Pittsburgh Football
The FanHouse - Virginia Football
The Hawkeye Compulsion
The House Rock Built
The Joe Cribbs Car Wash
The Power T
the SB Nation blog
The Sporting Blog
The Tennessean - UT
The Vol Historian
The Wizard of Odds
thecoolchicken
Third Saturday in Blogtober
Thirtyfive Seconds
TigerSmack.com
Tightwad Hill
Tomahawk Nation
Top College Football Prospects
Track Em Tigers
Tressel's World
TrojanWire
U-Dub Dish
USATODAY.com College Football - Top Stories
USC Jerseys | USC Football Jersey
UT Vols Football
Vanderbilt Sports Line
Verno's Blog
VolNation
Volquest.com
West Virginia University Mountaineer Sports
Whit Watson
With Leather
X Smack


Editor-in-Chief

Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small Joel

Senior Editor

Gromit_small Hooper

Tennessee_logo_small Will

Official Partner of CBS Sports